Ignorance is Bliss?

So it's been a while since I last updated this thing, but don't worry I'm back. Recently, a friend and I were talking about a memorable location on our college campus that has been completely destroyed before the beginning of this school year. We thought of the freshmen who have no idea that such a location ever existed. We began to wonder what, if anything, was erased before we got here. The possibilities are endless for as much as we know. Returning alumni may seek to find something that the current student body has never heard about or seen.

This led me to take this thought a step further and analyze my family situation. Several weeks ago, I was in San Francisco with my extended family for my cousin's wedding. During the rehearsal dinner, it was announced that a roommate of my deceased uncle was going to show up. My uncle is seldomly brought up during family get-togethers because of the treacherous emotional reaction it evokes. He committed suicide at a young age the year that I was born, so I never got a chance to know him.

He went to San Francisco after college for a short period- an experience that my family believes contributed to his demise. Emotions ran high, especially for my grandma (his mom) anticipating the roommate's arrival. We he came, there was an emotional explosion. He bore a striking resemblence to my uncle. My grandma, aunt and uncle spent time catching up with him, something, I think, extremely beneficial for all involved. He is a successful architect in California now which made my family happy. I noticed, however, that my dad did not say hello to him. I don't know if it were just too much for him, but I assume it was. My dad and uncle were very close when they were younger, so every reminder that he is gone tears my dad apart.

I thought, "what was I missing?' I always heard that he was a good, genuine man but I never had the pleasure to know this. We could have really connected with eachother, but now it is impossible to do so. It just shows how some things are just out of your control.

Pickle Me a Winner

Tomorrow at 4 p.m. marks the 11th annual Pickle Fest at Bagel Street Deli. For those of you who have no idea what Pickle Fest is (I assume most of you), Pickle Fest is a pickle eating competition in which competitors are split into groups of 10 and frantically devour as many pickles as they can in 10 minutes. The winner of each heat receives a t-shirt, but the pickle champion gets to make and name their own sandwich that will forever be a part of BSD's menu. I know what you're thinking, what better way to end the morose winter season than with a good ol' fashioned pickle eating contest? I feel the same way. I mention this event because I will be making my debut in this competition. I'm still not exactly sure what I'm getting myself into or if I have any chance of winning, but I have a feeling that just the spectacle will be enough to satisfy me.

Signing up to participate in this contest has given me a look at a very peculiar subculture: competitive eaters. In my pickle eating research, I stumbled upon a world pickle eating champion named "Chowhound." He gave me the proper technique to winning. It's called the "wood chipper." I also discovered that drinking excessive amounts of water and eating cabbage are common strategies for professional eaters. Chewing gum is very important because it strengthens your jaw muscles.

With all of my training and hard work, all I can hope for is to go out there and show those pickles who's boss. It won't be easy; I've accepted that. But hopefully next time you hear from me I'll have my own sandwich, a new t-shirt and an immense amount of pride and honor. Wish me luck!

Preface

So this is a blog... huh. An online journal to share all of my innermost thoughts and feelings, regardless of how obscure, irrational or flat out idiotic they may tend to be. For whomever may read my diary of madness,- if anyone that is- interpret whatever I say however you would like. My intentions are not to persuade you to join a cult or to change your life or to even have any effect on you at all. It is more for the purpose of having somewhere for me to go to relax and reflect on my experiences, actions and whatever pops into my mind.

To get off on the right foot, allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Kyle Ranally, and I am currently a student at Ohio University.  I am in the school's journalism program, but more specifically I am an advertising management major with a minor in psychology. I will most likely split my advertising major into half advertising and half public relations through the school's Carr Van Anda program. Some other random facts: I have been a drummer since I was 11 years old. I have been a huge baseball and football fan for my entire life. I find the way people behave extremely fascinatting. I was born and raised in the Cleveland suburbs.

Now that you have a very rough idea of who I am, I hope you are ready for what you are about to experience- rants of the philosophy of me. When it comes down to it, I am just an average guy trying to figure out this confusing, mysterious, stressful, perplexing and whatever other adjective you would like to apply to it, thing called life. So sit back and prepare yourself for... well I'm not even really sure what you're supposed to prepare yourself for, but it might be something worthwhile.